SCLC says student's rights violated

Skyland special-needs child's photo was circulated on flier

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Friday, December 14, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 11:47 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Leaders with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said the civil rights of a 5-year-old boy with special needs were violated when he was bullied by teachers at Skyland Elementary School in early November.

The Rev. Paul Sanders, vice president of the Tuscaloosa chapter of SCLC, told the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Thursday that a flier was circulated by email to Skyland Elementary School employees. It depicted a kindergartner in a mug shot-like pose with a caption below the photo telling school staff to ignore the boy.

Sanders said unnamed teachers at Skyland treated the student like he was a criminal. He said the student has been suspended repeatedly by school officials and has only been allowed to attend school for half days during the past month.

“This school system has a history of mistreating young black males and punishing them more harshly than their non-black counterparts,” Sanders said.

The caption with the black and white photo reads:

“Hi, I'm (student's name). I am working on improving my behavior at school and I need your help! If you see me while I am following the PAWsome expectations, please tell me what I am doing well. If you see me NOT following expectations, please do not talk to me. Sometimes you might see me being held by an adult in the building. If so, please pretend I'm not there and walk on by unless the adult asks you to go get help.”

The student's mother, LaKeishia Brown, said she was livid when she found out about the flier.

“I got a call about what happened from (a member of the SCLC) who showed me the flier,” Brown said while crying after the meeting. “I said, ‘This is my baby.' I couldn't believe it. I wanted to go to the school and cut up, but she told me to hold my peace and said they (the SCLC) would handle it.”

Brown said her son, who is cognitively delayed, has been suspended seven times this school year and now is allowed to attend school only half days. She said his teachers claim that he runs around in class and hits them, but she said she doesn't believe that because he's calm at home and is treated with a calming medication.

“I want them to stop doing stuff to my child,” she said. “Stop doing stuff like these fliers to him. He doesn't know what's going on.”

Sanders said the SCLC became involved a week ago. He said the group knows which teachers are involved. The SCLC also believes a secret meeting was called by a school administrator who told school employees that they would be fired if they told anyone about the flier, he said.

Sanders asked the school board to investigate the matter, reprimand the employees involved and provide sensitivity training for all teachers in the school system. He said the SCLC wants the issue fully resolved.

Dan Meissner, the school board's chairman, said Superintendent Paul McKendrick will handle the situation.

McKendrick said he's known about the issue for several weeks and has investigated it, but will look into it further.

“Some of the claims made tonight were not what we heard, but we'll go back and based on what we heard tonight do another investigation,” McKendrick said. “We don't condone this kind of behavior. Not psychological or physical violence.”

McKendrick said he couldn't discuss the details of any discipline that was or might be administered to the employees involved but said the initial investigation found some inappropriate actions by employees.

Board vice chairwoman Earnestine Tucker told school administrators that she wants the issue to receive their immediate attention and for a resolution to occur promptly.

“Do not allow little (student's name) to be railroaded and sent off to another school,” Sanders said while the child, sucking his thumb, held on to Sanders' leg.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Leaders with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said the civil rights of a 5-year-old boy with special needs were violated when he was bullied by teachers at Skyland Elementary School in early November.</p><p>The Rev. Paul Sanders, vice president of the Tuscaloosa chapter of SCLC, told the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Thursday that a flier was circulated by email to Skyland Elementary School employees. It depicted a kindergartner in a mug shot-like pose with a caption below the photo telling school staff to ignore the boy.</p><p>Sanders said unnamed teachers at Skyland treated the student like he was a criminal. He said the student has been suspended repeatedly by school officials and has only been allowed to attend school for half days during the past month.</p><p>“This school system has a history of mistreating young black males and punishing them more harshly than their non-black counterparts,” Sanders said.</p><p>The caption with the black and white photo reads:</p><p>“Hi, I'm (student's name). I am working on improving my behavior at school and I need your help! If you see me while I am following the PAWsome expectations, please tell me what I am doing well. If you see me NOT following expectations, please do not talk to me. Sometimes you might see me being held by an adult in the building. If so, please pretend I'm not there and walk on by unless the adult asks you to go get help.”</p><p>The student's mother, LaKeishia Brown, said she was livid when she found out about the flier.</p><p>“I got a call about what happened from (a member of the SCLC) who showed me the flier,” Brown said while crying after the meeting. “I said, 'This is my baby.' I couldn't believe it. I wanted to go to the school and cut up, but she told me to hold my peace and said they (the SCLC) would handle it.”</p><p>Brown said her son, who is cognitively delayed, has been suspended seven times this school year and now is allowed to attend school only half days. She said his teachers claim that he runs around in class and hits them, but she said she doesn't believe that because he's calm at home and is treated with a calming medication.</p><p>“I want them to stop doing stuff to my child,” she said. “Stop doing stuff like these fliers to him. He doesn't know what's going on.”</p><p>Sanders said the SCLC became involved a week ago. He said the group knows which teachers are involved. The SCLC also believes a secret meeting was called by a school administrator who told school employees that they would be fired if they told anyone about the flier, he said.</p><p>Sanders asked the school board to investigate the matter, reprimand the employees involved and provide sensitivity training for all teachers in the school system. He said the SCLC wants the issue fully resolved.</p><p>Dan Meissner, the school board's chairman, said Superintendent Paul McKendrick will handle the situation.</p><p>McKendrick said he's known about the issue for several weeks and has investigated it, but will look into it further.</p><p>“Some of the claims made tonight were not what we heard, but we'll go back and based on what we heard tonight do another investigation,” McKendrick said. “We don't condone this kind of behavior. Not psychological or physical violence.”</p><p>McKendrick said he couldn't discuss the details of any discipline that was or might be administered to the employees involved but said the initial investigation found some inappropriate actions by employees.</p><p>Board vice chairwoman Earnestine Tucker told school administrators that she wants the issue to receive their immediate attention and for a resolution to occur promptly.</p><p>“Do not allow little (student's name) to be railroaded and sent off to another school,” Sanders said while the child, sucking his thumb, held on to Sanders' leg.</p><p> </p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>